Greene Co. seeking donations for Boys and Girls Club

Children take part in physical education class in the gym at Greene County Intermediate School on Monday. The Boys and Girls Club may be using the school as their meeting place, utilizing several classrooms and the gymnasium for their activities.

Published: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 09:10 PM.

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SNOW HILL — One of the largest organizations of after-school programs for youth may be on its way to Snow Hill.

Greene County Schools Superintendent Patrick Miller said the potential of opening up a Boys and Girls Club chapter in Snow Hill came after he delivered a speech at a conference in early 2012.

“I was speaking at a conference in early spring last year and Misty Marston, the executive director of the Pitt County Boys and Girls Clubs, was in attendance,” Miller said. “We struck up a conversation that went in the direction of potentially opening up one in Greene County. It’s still all we’re talking about at this point.”

Miller believes county children would benefit from the club, which would be housed at Greene County Intermediate School.

“It would give our children some extra opportunities to get supervision, a chance to play, have fun, continue learning and build new skills to be successful down the road,” Miller said. “It would be a safe place for them to come after school, during the summer and teacher workdays.

“The Boys and Girls Club is nationally well-known, and their three priority outcomes that would benefit children of Greene County they provide are academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles.”

Greene County Intermediate School principal Jada Mumford can attest to the positives of the Boys and Girls Club. Mumford ran the Mitchell Wooten club in Kinston from 1997-99.

SNOW HILL — One of the largest organizations of after-school programs for youth may be on its way to Snow Hill.

Greene County Schools Superintendent Patrick Miller said the potential of opening up a Boys and Girls Club chapter in Snow Hill came after he delivered a speech at a conference in early 2012.

“I was speaking at a conference in early spring last year and Misty Marston, the executive director of the Pitt County Boys and Girls Clubs, was in attendance,” Miller said. “We struck up a conversation that went in the direction of potentially opening up one in Greene County. It’s still all we’re talking about at this point.”

Miller believes county children would benefit from the club, which would be housed at Greene County Intermediate School.

“It would give our children some extra opportunities to get supervision, a chance to play, have fun, continue learning and build new skills to be successful down the road,” Miller said. “It would be a safe place for them to come after school, during the summer and teacher workdays.

“The Boys and Girls Club is nationally well-known, and their three priority outcomes that would benefit children of Greene County they provide are academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles.”

Greene County Intermediate School principal Jada Mumford can attest to the positives of the Boys and Girls Club. Mumford ran the Mitchell Wooten club in Kinston from 1997-99.

“From my experience, the importance of reaching out into the community and building positive relationships are truly necessary,” Mumford said. “Mentors can provide an impact to these children outside of the classroom.”

Mumford said Greene County Intermediate School, which opened in 2011, was the school chosen in the planning stages of the Boys and Girls Club because it was the newest one in the area.

“Before Greene County Middle School opened, this was the school chosen,” Mumford said.

Currently, Miller and Marston are among others trying to raise funds to handle the costs of the Boys and Girls Club. Although Marston was unavailable for comment, in a recent interview with The Times-Leader in Grifton, she said “Sustainability is key. We are not about opening and closing Boys and Girls Clubs.”

Miller estimates more than $120,000 have been raised so far, but said Marston predicts it would take an additional $40,000.

“We are in the process of trying to collect donations, in what is called a founders drive,” Miller said. “The purpose is to have founders and commitments for first three years. We’re trying to get pledges, local businesses, churches and individuals to donate, so we can open up the club. The only barrier would be finances.”

Miller does have a goal for a time to have the Boys and Girls Club operational in Snow Hill.

“Our goal is to finish the founder’s drive and be open by December,” Miller said.

Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.

Can you help?

Want to donate and assist Greene County in getting a Boys and Girls Club? If so, send a check with Greene County designated in the bottom left hand corner to 621 W. Fire Tower Road, Winterville, NC 28590